IS AUSTIN FC BACK?
PHOTOS BY CArlos valdovinos
The west is a mess. With six teams hovering between 26 and 30 points, we can expect a dogfight as the season comes to a close. PORTLAND ENTERED THE GAME AS CLEAR FAVORITES PLAYING BEHIND AN ELECTRIC HOME CROWD AT PROvIDENCE PARK, WITH A CAPACITY OF ROUghly 25,000 fans.
however, it was austin who struck first, with a close range finish from Facundo Torres, who currently has 3 goals and 6 assists this season.
After a VAR review confirmed a foul in the box by Austin defender Oleksandr Svatok, Portland substitute Antony stepped up to convert the 89th-minute penalty kick, leveling the score at 1-1. AT THIS MOMENT, THE HOME CROWD URGED PORTLAND FORWARD SEEMINGLY SHIFTING The momentum.
Following a corner kick and a blocked header from Šabović, Svatok pounced on the loose ball inside the six-yard box to tap home the 93rd-minute winner for austin FC, stunning providence park and leaving the crowd in silence as austin escaped with 3 points, leaving portland in a difficult spot. A WIN AT HOME WOULD HAVE PROPELLED PORTLAND INTO A PLAYOFF SPOT, BUT INSTEAD THEY WILL LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AND FIND A WAY TO SECURE THE MUCH NEEDED POINTS AS THEY HOST minnesota united fc.
